Air pollution in UK cities ‘killing 40,000 a year’, claims new study

CITIES and towns in Wales have some of the worst pollution in the UK according to a new report – and tens of thousands of people are dying as a result.

Millions of people living in dozens of British cities are inhaling air considered too dangerous to breathe by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the report has shown.

And it’s estimated 40,000 are being killed by toxic fumes every year.

The data, published by the Royal College of Physicians and Lancet Countdown, showed 44 locations were breaching WHO air pollution guidelines.

In Wales Cardiff, Swansea, Port Talbot, Newport, Chepstow and Wrexham were over the limit.

The RCP’s Dr Toby Hillman said: “One of the key things we wanted to highlight is that polluted air is a direct problem for the UK and Welsh population.

“Tackling climate change is a public health issue. Tackling the causes of climate change will help the public health of the UK on a short- to mediumterm basis rather than having to be a far-off target.”

It would bring “huge benefits.”

The RCP’s air quality adviser, Professor Stephen Holgate, said: “The UK is leading the way internationally on many areas of climate and health – with the recent T-charge a good example.”

That is a zone in London where drivers of the most polluting vehicles must pay to use them.

“Yet it continues to miss the glaring opportunities that can be implemented today with highly substantial benefit,” Prof Holgate said. “As the RCP and Lancet Countdown research shows, climate change is here and a health issue today. More can and should be done. The benefits for an overstretched health service alone are justification, but it is clear that the benefits of action will be felt much more widely, both economically and for those most affected by air pollution.”

Joseph Carter, head of British Lung Foundation Wales, said: “This study reveals the tragic reality that the most polluted areas are exactly where our most vulnerable are – schools, hospitals and clinics.

“The extent of the public health emergency we are facing demands nothing less than urgent action to protect our lung health.

“Road traffic is the biggest culprit. The government should act immediately by using the budget to end incentives to buy diesel vehicles.

“With thousands of people using the roads in Wales each day, air pollution is just as much of an issue here in Wales.”

Breathing pollution from exhausts could have a “devastating impact on health”.

“It can increase chances of getting lung cancer and it can stunt the growth of children’s lungs,” Mr Carter said.

“For people who already have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma, it can worsen their symptoms and force them into hospital.

“We would like to see Welsh Government follow in the footstep of the Mayor of London by implementing similar schemes to the T-charge here in Wales, targeting those cities who are in breach/nearly in breach of their air pollution limits.”

“We need Welsh Government to lead the way on reducing air pollution, working with local authorities and other stakeholders to show the people of Wales that health is a priority.”

Swansea University’s Professor Paul Lewis said: “Particulates come from not just diesel cars, but also petrol cars, and all other forms of combustion as well. The government is right to focus on diesel but banning diesel cars is not going to cure half the problem.

“I would assume that the high levels in Swansea and Cardiff are mainly due to traffic and Port Talbot has its own unique source from the steelworks.

“There are huge problems with Newport and traffic buildup,” he said. “The congestion there is bad on the M4.”

He said there needed to be better monitoring of air quality in Wales and the UK.

“And we need more research into what the real effects are in terms of disease,” he said.

Friends of the Earth air pollution campaigner Jenny Bates said: “Residents in Port Talbot, Chepstow, Cardiff, Newport, Swansea and Wrexham will be concerned to learn that the air they’re breathing contains dangerous fine particles above World Health Organisation recommended levels.

“We need to see more action, more quickly from both the UK and Welsh governments to deal with this public health crisis.”